The couple whose wedding reception claimed over 100 lives have spoken of unspeakable sorrow that has engulfed them since an inferno wrecked their beautiful nuptials.
The couple who granted Sky News an exclusive interview said they are surrounded with sorrow everywhere they turn because they lost most of their loved ones and friends.
The newlyweds, Haneen and Ravan, were slow-dancing during their Christian wedding in the northern town of Qaraqosh near Mosul when fireworks lit flowers, drapes and other overhead decorations which rained balls of fire on seated guests.
The couple stopped their dance abruptly, as their guests fled in various directions.
The husband, Ravan said his father had asked the event owners about the risk of using fireworks inside the hall, expressing concern that sparks could land on the bride’s dress and catch fire.
He claimed that the event venue owners explained that it was an electric light and ‘you could put your hand or plastic in it and it would not burn”.
It has now cost the couple over 100 lives to find out the claim is false.
Ravan spoke of the dreadful night, narrating how his wife could not walk because of her dress and he had to drag her through the kitchen exit to escape from the inferno.
According to him, others trying to escape trampled on the bride’s legs, injuring her.
Ravan lamented: “On the wedding night. Why did this happen? What did we do? We can’t live here any more. I had some happiness and then something tragic happened and destroyed everything. So it’s best we just leave. She (the bride) lost 10 relatives from her family. Her mum, her brother. She cannot speak.”
The wife stared blankly throughout the interview, not uttering a word.
Watch some of the scenes from the tragic event and the funeral here.
